God Cares for His People

God Cares for His People Scripture: Exodus 7 13 Bible Memory: 1 Peter 5:7 Focus: Lesson 10 Heart to Heart Teacher Devotions God never changes. In a world that craves the latest and newest, this phrase may not stir our hearts. But the powerful God who inflicted plagues on the Egyptians to free His people is the same powerful God who today can free us from our bondage. He is the God who heals relationships and works for good in our lives. God has not changed. He is still all-powerful. Acknowledge His supremacy. Praise Him, for God can do anything. Lesson 10 at a Glance 1 Focus In Use one of these activities to help children discover things people can and can t do. Quick Step I Can Tic-Tac-Toe Challenging Art HeartShaper I Can Tic-Tac-Toe reproducible page Other pencils paper, pencils Bible Memory Introduce the Bible Memory verse. Resources sheet 2 Bible Memory poster 2 Explore His Word Use all of these activities to help children describe how God showed He can do anything. Bible Exploration Exodus 7 13 Bible Review Activity Bible Memory 1 Peter 5:7 Resources sheet 7 story figures 10b 10m and sheet 8 figures 10a and 10n/10o, Teaching Picture 10 Activities p. 23, Resources sheet 7 plague circles 10d 10m (optional: Resources CD) Bibles, ruler, 10 craft sticks, tape (optional: empty paper tubes) pencils (optional: CD player) Bibles, whiteboard, dry-erase markers, balloons al Bible Skill Builder 3 Make It Real Use one of these activities to help children name times when God can help them. Quick Step God Can Help Me Game God Can! Cans Activities p. 24 pencils poster board, scissors, marker, tape, pieces of paper Story from Weekly Bible Reader Weekly Bible Reader issue 10 4 Live It Out Use one of these activities to help children remember God can do anything. Quick Step Worship Our Great God! Toss and Worship Saying Good-bye Activities pp. 23 and 24 Weekly Bible Reader issue 10 9 sheets of construction paper, marker, masking tape, beanbag empty soup or vegetable cans, construction paper, scissors, markers, tape, plain paper Early Elementary Teacher, Unit 3, Lesson 10 65

Focus In (10 15 minutes) 1 Use one of these activities to help children discover things people can and can t do. Use the Bible Memory activity to introduce the memory verse. Focus Welcome Welcome each child by name. Engage early arrivers by offering one or more of the activities described on the Additional Activities for Unit 3 page. Quick Step I Can Tic-Tac-Toe Gather children in a circle. SAY: Let s play a game and discover some things people in our class can do. Distribute the reproducible pages and pencils. Tell the children to find classmates who can do the things shown. When they find someone who can do a particular task, that person should write her name in that space on the game board. The goal is to get three names in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. ASK: What are some things you can do? What are some things you can t do or have a hard time doing? SAY: There are lots of things we can do, and there are lots of things we can t do. We re going to find out today that copies of the I Can Tic-Tac-Toe game reproducible page, pencils Note See the Contents page for the location of reproducible pages. The I Can Tic-Tac-Toe activity is also provided with the lesson 10 printable files on the Resources CD. Challenging Art Gather children at tables. SAY: Let s see if you can do a fun challenge. Pass out paper and pencils. Tell the children to draw a flower. Then have them draw a flower with their eyes closed. Next have the children turn their papers over and draw an animal with their non-dominant hand. Then have them try to draw an animal with the pencil between clasped hands. ASK: Which ways could you draw a good picture? Which ways could you not draw a good picture? What are some other things you can do? What are some other things you can t do? paper, pencils Set up stations around the room so that children can try the drawing challenges at their own pace. SAY: There are lots of things we can do, and there are lots of things we can t do. We re going to find out today that Bible Memory 1 Peter 5:7 SAY: Our Bible Memory verse is 1 Peter 5:7. Display the Bible Memory poster. Point to the pictures and words as you read the verse aloud. Lead the children in reading the verse with you; tell them to emphasize the word all. Read the verse together again, but this time emphasize the word your. Resources sheet 2 Bible Memory poster ASK: What do you think the word anxiety means? (problems, fears, worries) Ask the children to name some problems, fears, or worries they have. SAY: It s good to know God cares for us and that He can help us with all our problems. Today we ll learn that Transition to Explore His Word See the Resources CD Transition Tips printable file. As children gather, make sure you have all the materials you need. 66 God Cares for His People, Lesson 10

Focus Explore His Word (20 minutes) 2 Use all of these activities to help children describe how God showed He can do anything. Bible Background for the Teacher God had a plan to get the Israelites out of Egypt. He chose Moses and Aaron to tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the people go. Archaeology reveals that a snake on Pharaoh s crown symbolized power and wisdom. Scripture tells us that Aaron s staff became a snake and swallowed the snakes of Pharaoh s sorcerers. The outcome was already clear God was more powerful. When God sent the first nine plagues, He showed total control over the world He created, as well as over the perceived power of Egypt s many gods. The people of Egypt worshipped the Nile River, frogs were a divine symbol of fertility, and their sun god was considered the divine father of Pharaoh. What did God do? God turned the Nile River to blood, frogs invaded the land and died, and darkness covered the sun. It was obvious that the one true God had power and authority over Egypt s man-made gods. When the last plague, the death of Egypt s firstborn sons, occurred, Pharaoh s son died. This affected Pharaoh not only personally as a father but also politically, for the heir to his throne was gone. Pharaoh finally realized God s sovereignty and let the Israelites go. Worship Time If you want to offer a time of worship, see the Resources CD unit 3 Worship Time printable file for ideas. Bibles; Resources sheet 7 story figures 10b 10m and sheet 8 figures 10a and 10n/10o, ruler, 10 craft sticks, tape, Teaching Picture 10 (optional: empty paper tubes) Before Class Assemble the Moses figure by folding and taping the flaps together to form a base. Add sections of paper tubes to the backs of figures 10b and 10c to make them stand. Attach a craft stick to each of the plague circles, 10d 10m. Tape the pillars of fire and cloud back-to-back on a ruler. Bible Exploration Exodus 7 13 SAY: Our Bible story today is from the Old Testament book of Exodus. Exodus comes right after Genesis. At the beginning of Exodus, Moses is a baby; by chapter 7, he is a man. Help the children find Exodus 7:7 in their Bibles. Ask a volunteer to read the verse aloud. SAY: Help me tell the story. When you hear the word but, shake your head, and say, That didn t change the king s mind! Listen for ways God showed He could do anything. Say the word but in an exaggerated fashion to signal the children. Display the story figures and ask children to hold the plague circles as prompted. SAY: God s people, the Israelites, had a big problem. They were slaves in Egypt. They had to work very, very hard. They were sad and miserable. They prayed to God for help, and He heard their prayers. (Show 10a.) Moses had grown up in Egypt, living as the son of the king s daughter. God told Moses he was going to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses, along with his brother Aaron, went to the king to ask him to let God s people leave Egypt. (Show 10b and 10c.) The king said, No! He wanted God s people to stay and work for him. So God sent plagues, or troubles, on the Egyptian people. First, all the water became blood (10d). There was no water for the Egyptians to drink. All the fish died. But (kids say that didn t change the king s mind! ). Next God sent a plague of frogs (10e). Frogs hopped into ovens and onto people. But (kids say that didn t change the king s mind! ). Then came a plague of gnats (10f), followed by a plague of flies (10g). Flies were everywhere in the Egyptians houses, but there were no flies in the homes where the Israelites lived. But (kids say that didn t change the king s mind! ). Early Elementary Teacher, Unit 3, Lesson 10 67

God sent more plagues. Next came a plague on animals (10h). All the animals that belonged to the Egyptians died. Then came a plague of boils (10i). Festering boils broke out on the skin of all the Egyptian people and all their animals. The seventh plague was hail (10j). Huge pieces of hail fell and killed all the Egyptian people and animals that were outside. But (kids say that didn t change the king s mind! ). God sent another plague locusts (10k)! The large, noisy bugs covered and ate everything. No green plant or tree was left. Plague nine was darkness (10l). Total darkness covered Egypt for three days. The Egyptian people couldn t see anything or go anywhere. But (kids say that didn t change the king s mind! ). Added Fun! Play the first two stanza of the unit 3 Rhythm Activity from the Resources CD track 5. Play again and invite kids to join in. Words can be found in the unit 3 printable files on the Resources CD. God warned His people to get ready for the last plague. He told them to paint their doorframes with lamb s blood. Then came the tenth, and final, plague (10m). All the firstborn sons in Egypt died. Even the king s oldest son died. But not one of the sons born to God s people died. God kept His people safe. The king of Egypt called for Moses and said, Go! Leave us alone. Go worship your God. God s people, the Israelites, left Egypt in the middle of the night. By day God went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud. (Show 10o.) By night He went ahead of them in a pillar of fire. (Show 10n and Teaching Picture 10.) God s people knew God was taking care of them. They knew Bible Review Activity ASK: How did God show He can do anything? (He brought all kinds of plagues on the Egyptian people. He protected His people from the harmful plagues. He guided His people by a pillar of cloud and fire.) SAY: Let s see what else you remember from the Bible story. Distribute the activity pages and pencils. Read the directions and do the Yes, God Can! activity together. For further review, lay all the plague circles facedown. Have kids take turns choosing circles and telling about the plagues pictured. See if they can lay the circles in order from the first to final plague. SAY: God proved to both the Egyptians and the Israelites that He can do anything. We need to remember Bible Memory 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Write 1 Peter 5:7 on the board and help the children find the verse in their Bibles. Remind them that 1 Peter is in the New Testament, near the end of the Bible. Ask the kids to read the verse together. Form small groups of children and have each group stand in a circle. Give each group a balloon. Tell them they must say the next word of the memory verse as they toss the balloon around the circle, not letting the balloon hit the floor. If the balloon hits the floor, they must start again at the beginning of the verse. After groups have had time to say the verse several times, SAY: You can say this verse whenever you need to remember that God cares for you and that Activities p. 23, pencils, Resources sheet 7 plague circles 10d 10m (optional: Resources CD track 6, CD player) Play the recorded Bible story from the Resources CD track 6. Have kids join Pharaoh in saying, No! You cannot go! Bibles, whiteboard, dry-erase marker, inflated balloons al Bible Skill Builder Two classroom tools provided on the Resources CD are the Old and New Testament Books posters. Display the posters. Name books of the Bible and let children tell you if the books are in the Old or New Testament. 68 God Cares for His People, Lesson 10

Focus Make It Real (10 15 minutes) 3 Use one of these activities to help children name times when God can help them. Activities p. 24, pencils If personal family situations are mentioned during discussion activities, follow your congregation s policies in dealing with such issues. Added Fun! Let kids act out some things God can do. Quick Step God Can Do Anything SAY: Just as God cared for Moses and the Israelites, it is important for us remember that God cares about us. God can help us anytime and anywhere, because Let s think about times when God can help us. Distribute the activity pages and pencils. Lead kids in talking about the pictures and things God can do to help in each situation. (Examples: God can help us remember what we ve learned; God can help us not be afraid; God can help us when we are sick; God can help us make new friends.) SAY: Circle one or two pictures that show when you most need to remember that ASK: What are some other times when God can help you? Be prepared to share about a time when you needed help, and tell how God helped. This will help children who are hesitant to admit there are times when they need help. prepared poster board, scissors, marker, tape, pieces of paper Before Class Cut five circles about the size of a small paper plate out of a piece of poster board. Write at the top of the poster board, God can help me when... Attach the poster board to the edge of a table or between two chairs. If you have a large class, make two or more poster boards. Weekly Bible Reader issue 10 Through the Hole SAY: Just as God helped Moses and the Israelites, He wants to help us when we are trying to do something hard or going through a tough time. Let s name times when God can help us. We ll remember God can do anything! Read aloud the words on the poster board. Give the kids pieces of paper to wad up. One at a time, kids can name a time when they need God to help them. Then they can try to throw their paper wads through one of the holes. When a paper wad goes through a hole, everyone should shout: God can do anything! ASK: When do we need God to help us? (when we re scared, when we re sick, when the weather is bad, when we are having problems with family members or friends, when we need forgiveness, etc.) SAY: It s important to remember that God cares about us. He can help us anytime and anywhere, because Story from Weekly Bible Reader Read the rebus story, The Class Field Trip. Pause when you come to a picture, and let the children say the word. Talk about how Emily learned that God cares about us and wants to protect us. ASK: Why were Carla and Emily scared? (Something was wrong with the bus.) What did they do and what happened? (prayed to God; their prayer was answered) When do you need to remember that God can do anything and He can help you? Early Elementary Teacher, Unit 3, Lesson 10 69

Live It Out (5 10 minutes) 4 Use one of these activities to help children remember God can do anything. Focus Quick Step God Can Help Me Game SAY: Let s play a game and remember Ask kids to name nine things God can do or times when God can help them. They can name things God did in the Bible story or times God can help that have been discussed in class. Quickly write each thing or time named on a separate sheet of construction paper. Tape the papers to the floor, three across and three down. Let kids take turns tossing a beanbag. The person who tosses the bag can say, God can do anything. He can help when... The sentence should be completed by telling what is written on the paper where the beanbag has landed. Close your class time with prayer, asking God to help the children remember that God cares for them and can help them because He can do anything. 9 sheets of construction paper, marker, masking tape, beanbag If some children do not want to pray by themselves, offer to pray with them or have children pray in groups of two or three. God Can! Cans SAY: We ve talked about lots of things God can do, and we ve named times when God can help us. Let s make a craft that will help us remember Distribute supplies. Have each child write God Can! on a piece of construction paper and decorate the paper as desired. Wrap the paper around an empty can and secure with tape. Let kids cut pictures from their activity pages that remind them of things God can do. They can draw on slips of paper additional pictures of things God can do or times when God can help them. They should place all the pictures in their cans. SAY: Take your cans home and put them where you will see them often. Whenever you are having a hard time, pull a paper from your can and remember He will help you. He cares for you. empty soup or vegetable cans (1 per child), construction paper, scissors, markers, tape, Activities pp. 23 and 24, plain paper Before Class Cut pieces of construction to fit around the cans you are providing. Cut 2" x 3" slips of plain paper for additional pictures kids may want to draw. Saying Good-bye Make sure children have projects and activity pages they have done. If you have time before parents arrive, use some of the activities on the Additional Activities for Unit 3 page. Weekly Bible Reader Give each student a Weekly Bible Reader to take home. Be sure parents know about the Faith & Family pages available online to print and use with their children at home. Go to www.heartshaper.com. 70 God Cares for His People, Lesson 10